Artwork

Preparatory study for a drawing of Peterborough House and Westminster Abbey

Preparatory study for a drawing of Peterborough House and Westminster Abbey is a drawing by the Baroque artist Francis Place. It dates from 1683 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This 1683 drawing by Francis Place is a preparatory study for a larger work, featuring Peterborough House and Westminster Abbey. Characterized by loose, quick pencil strokes, it captures the basic forms of the two adjacent buildings, set amidst trees, with minimal detail.

Subject & Meaning

The subject matter focuses on two prominent London landmarks of the time: Peterborough House, depicted with a distinctive pagoda-style roof, and the lengthy, sloped-roof structure of Westminster Abbey. The drawing's primary purpose was to aid in the creation of a panoramic finished piece.

Technique & Style

Executed in light pencil strokes with subtle shading, the study reflects Place's later style, marked by stronger hatching (though not prominently displayed here) and wash techniques, evolving from his earlier influence by Wenceslaus Hollar towards a more individual approach.

History & Provenance

Part of a cohesive collection inherited through Place's descendants, the drawing remained in family possession until the collection's dispersal following an 1873 sale. It is one of two sketches from the same sketchbook contributing to the finished *Peterborough House and Lambeth from Millbank*.